UN chief concerned by new land mines on Korean Peninsula

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Monday expressed his concerns over the reports that the Korean People's Army has placed new land mines in the southern half of the Demilitarized Zone, which injured two soldiers from the Republic of Korea on Aug. 4.

In a note to correspondents, the secretary-general urged the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to fully adhere to the obligations under the Armistice Agreement and engage in dialogue on this incident.

The secretary-general also urged the tensions on the Korean Peninsula to be alleviated.

Two South Korean soldiers, who were conducting regular search operations on the south side of the Demilitarized Zone in the west border, suffered serious injuries after the detonation of landmines which had been assuredly buried by the DPRK, according to South Korean military sources.

It was the first time in about 50 years that South Korean soldiers were injured by the explosion of the DPRK-buried mines.